USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > Kalamazoo County, Michigan city directory 1869-70 > Part 12
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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY.
and kept it for many years. A public house is still open there. Thomas Chaffee settled on the Indian Fields in 1832.
In 1833, Russell Harris, Elijah Root, Estes Bradbury, Roswell Page, and Lot North, with their families, arrived and settled in the vicinity of Portage Creek, west of Indian Fields. Ruel Star, Deacon Dodson, and Otis Pitts came about the same time. The following are some of the early settlers of Portage : Alison Kinne, Martin Lothrop, Elihu Russell, Isaac A. Brooks, Wid- ow Wattles and her sons Myrtle, Stephen and George; Harmon Sherwood, Joseph Beckley, Ebenezer Durkee, Charles Cutler, Samuel Crooks, the Trumbulls, Enoch French.
The pioneers had many difficulties to contend with. Most of them were weeks on their way; and, arriving at their destina- tion, were obliged to occupy the same lodging they had had dur- ing the long journey. namely, in the covered wagon, or, by its side, on the ground; cooking their repast with faggots lying in the woods, and leading a camp-lite, until they had laid up a log cabin for a residence, In this shanty, consisting of one apartment, with furniture corresponding with the style of archi- tecture, the pioneer and his family of from three to six found ac- commodation, and even travellers were lodged when they asked for it; sometimes two or three families would find shelter in these primitive habitations until other cabins could be construc- ted. Wolves were very troublesome. Mr. Thomas Cooley went to a neighbors. ( Ramsay's ) about three miles distant, one afternoon; just at evening he started for home, with a quarter of venison which the boys had just brought in and dressed. He had not proceeded far when he saw several wolves coming after him. To escape them he cut off picees of venison and threw down as they approached too near, and while they were quarrel- ling over the meat he would make the best use he could of his legs. When he reached Mr. Allison Kinne's house the should- er of venison had all been fed out to the savage beasts.
The progress of the settlement, and cultivation of the soil was slow and attended by many hardships. Elijah Root's saw mill was started in 1834 and was a great convenience to the early settler. A small grist mill was built soon after by a Mr. Barber,
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on a branch of the Portage, and grain has often been carried to that mill, on men's shoulders, to be ground, and then carried home in the same way. The first school was taught in 1834, at Indian Fields, by a Mr. Ramsdell. Losette Harris is said to be the first white child born in Portage. The first marriage was that of Martin Lothrop and Elizabeth Root ( the ceremony having been performed by Cyrus Lovel Esq.), in 1834. John Henika ( living in the south part of Kalamazoo township ), J. E. Dodson and others established religious services, class meet- ings at an early day. The first preaching was by Elder Merrill. The first post-office was established at Carpenter's Corners, about the year 1840.
The township was set off from Pavilion and organized in 1838. the first meeting being held at the house of Elijah Root. The population of Portage, in 1860 was, 974, and there were 187 dwellings. It is believed that the population now is about 1.300. The Kalamazoo & Schoolcraft Railroad runs through the town ( laid down, 186-7), and there is a station at Durkee's. Portage contributed liberally in men and money to sustain the Union and crush the Rebellion.
The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in Portage in the year 1868, was $287,885.
RICHLAND.
This township, designated as town one south, range ten west, and also known as Gull Prairie, is one of the oldest settled towns in the county. It is pleasantly situated six miles north of the Michigan Central Railroad at Galesburg, and eight miles north-east of Kalamazoo; bounded north by Prairieville in Barry county, east by Ross township, and Gull lake, south by Comstock, and west by Cooper. The surface is gently undula-
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ting; the soil exceedingly rich and productive; there are some three or four thousand acres of prairie land in the township. the balance consists of oak openings and marsh land. Gull lake, a beautiful sheet of water, some four miles in length, north and south, by two miles in width, lies upon the east side of the town and occupies a portion of sections 1 and 12. This lake abounds in fish of all kinds usually found in western waters, and is a popu- lar resort for lovers of the sport during the fishing season ; an island in the lake of twenty acres or more in extent makes a splendid camping ground for parties who desire to remain over night. A small steamboat runs from Yorkville, at the outlet of the lake, to Thomas' mill which stands at the head of the lake.
Gull Prairie, so-called, occupies a large portion of the town, and, with a soil of wonderful fertility, may well be called "the garden of the West." It was originally the site of two very extensive Indian villages, and occupied by a tribe called Potto- wattomie, until the first settlement by the whites in 1830. These Indians remained in large numbers in the vicinity, loth to leave their ancient hunting grounds, until removed by the Uni- ted States Government in 1840.
Extensive "garden beds," so called, and some six or more mounds were found by the first settlers of the township. These were evidently of ancient formation, as large trees were growing upon them. The Indians could give no account of them as by whom made, or for what purpose, and their origin has perplexed antiquarians to this day.
The order of settlement was as follows : In May, 1830, Colo- nel Isaac Barnes and family, consisting of his wife, his four sons, Carlos, George, Lucius and Lester, and two daughters, Harriet and Julia, arrived from Medina, Ohio. They settled on the north-west corner of section 14, in the vicinity of the "mounds," and built a substantial log house. Soon after ( the same season ) came William Giddings ( father of Hon. Marsh Giddings, of Kal- amazoo ), wife and family, consisting of his sons William Pitt, Ely, John, Marsh, DeGraff, Czar and Similius, and daughters Jane, Louisa, Emma -- and Eusebie, from Connecticut; John Barnes and family, from Hudson, Ohio; Seldon Norton
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and family, from Aurora, Ohio; Deacon James Porter and family; Orville Barnes and family; Cornelius Northrop and family; Hazael Hoag and family ( Quakers), from Vermont ; Orlando Weed and family; David S. Dillie and family ; Wil- liam Logan and family ; William Jones and family, and a Dr. Thompson. These all settled on the Prairie that season, and built log houses, making what was called " squat claims." The land did not come into market until June, 1831. Also, the same year (1830), came John F. Gilkey, who pre-emptioned a large tract in the north part of the town; Mumford Eldred, Jr., Levi S. White, Calvin White, John Quincy Adams (not the President ), all single men, who made claims and returned the next year.
In the spring and summer of 1830 there were accessions to the new settlement, as follows: Deacon Samuel Brown, wife, and sons Dauphin, Samuel, Joseph, Russell and Charles, and daughters Mary, Lucy, Elmira, Charlotte and Elizabeth ; Dea- con Simeon Mills, wife and sons Eli, Samuel and Charles, and daughters Sarah, Olive, Mariette and Maria; Deacon Isaac Briggs and family of four children ; Deacon Philip Gray ; Philip Corey and family; Deacon Samuel Boyles and family, and Wil- liam Plummer. During this year ( 1831), a post-office was es- tablished under the name of " Geloster " at the house of Colonel Isaac Barnes, he receiving the appointment as post-master, which office he held until 1841, when he was succeeded by Mumford Eldred Jr. Also this year (1831), the first white child born in town in the family of Selden Norton. He was named Selden Norton, Jr. The first school opened this year in a log house.
In 1832, the number of settlers was largely increased. Asa and Loyal Jones; Henry Little and family ; Willard, Augustus, Timothy and Sylvester Mills, brothers of Deacon S. Mills; Dea- con Samuel Woodruff and family ; Deacon Edwin Mason and family; Rev. Levi White and family; a Mr. Cole and Mr. Cummings. At the raising of a barn this season (32-the first frame one), the town was named " Richland "-name suggested by Deacon Mills. The first store and blacksmith shop opened
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this year. Also, the same season, occurred the famous Black Hawk war, which caused much apprehension to the new settle- ment, the woods being literally full of Indians, but was quite allayed by the capture of Black Hawk.
Colonel I. Barnes received the first appointment ( this year, 1832), of Probate Judge, and was also Justice of the Peace in the county.
In 1833, first hotel opened by Timothy Mills; also a stage and mail route northward to Grand Rapids. Village was com- menced at the " Corners."
In 1834, the first meeting house ( Union ) erected, but never finished. In 1837, the first Presbyterian meeting house erected at the Corners. Rev. Calvin Clark installed as pastor; suc- ceeded by Rev. Milton Bradley in 1843. In 1854, " Prairie Seminary " incorporated and a fine building erected.
In 1861, the present new church edifice ( Presbyterian) erected upon site of the one built in 1837, which was sold to the Methodists. This is a very fine building capable of seating about 600 people. Rev. M. Bradley is still pastor, having held that relation since 1843.
There are two societies-the Odd Fellows and Good Tem- plars-which are well sustained.
There is now ( 1869) in town, two churches, ten school houses, two stores, two groceries, two hotels, two wagon shops, four blacksmith shops, one saw mill, one grist mill, two physi- cians, no lawyers, three shoemakers, two painters and one har- ness maker.
Whole number of pupils belonging to public schools, 500; whole number of voters, 310; population in 1869, estimated at 1,550; total assessed value of real and personal property in 1868, $435,327.
Richland, at an early day, took the lead of other settlements in the county, in respect to population, religious matters, and general progress. Colonel Barnes' colony was considered a mod- el one for those days. The village of Geloster, laid out and plat- ted in 1831, has not greatly increased its original proportions. There are few, if any, towns in the county which have a more
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interesting history than Richland. She has furnished the coun- ty and State with numerous public men, and has always been marked for the excellence of her citizens. During the rebellion she promptly furnished her quota of men, and no braver soldiers than they fought under the Union flag.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian Church was organized October 14th, 1831. The record is that "members of different sister churches met on Gull Prairie for the purpose of being organized into a church." Rev. Luther Humphrey, then of Edwardsburg, acted as Moderator, and Rev. Wm. Jones was appointed Clerk. The following persons presented letters of good and regular standing in other churches : James Porter, Mary Porter, Mary Norton, John B. Barnes, Emelia Barnes, Cornelius Northrop, Cyrenius Thompson, Orville Barnes, Thankful Barnes, Mary Logan, Jane Giddings. Also others, not having letters, but desiring to unite with a church, were present, and accepted as follows: Ann Thompson, Levi S. White, Jonathan Russell, Adeline Russell, Eliza Eckford, making 16 in all. It was organized as a Presby- terian Church, October 16th, 1831. Rev. Luther Humphrey presided, and preached a sermon. The Lord's Supper was ob- served, and the first baptism of children ( believed to be the first ever baptised in the county). Their names are Jonathan Thompson and Catherine Jones. This was the first Church organized in the township.
In January, 1832, 29 other persons were added to the Church. A Sabbath School was organized even before the church, and a monthly concert of prayer was held. On the 12th of January, 1832, church officers were first chosen, Rev. Levi White presid- ing as Moderator. Samuel Brown and Simeon Mills were made Deacons; John B. Barnes, Samuel Woodruff and James Por- ter, Ruling Elders. In March, 1834, 50 other persons had been
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received to the Church. Revs. Levi White, Wm. Jones, Silas Woodbury, Mr. Elliot, Mason Knappen, supplied preaching.
In February, 1838 Rev. Calvin Clark was installed pastor; he continued this relation to the Church until 1843, when he en- tered the service of the Home Missionary Society.
In October, 1843, Rev. Milton Bradley, a member of the ยท Presbytery of St. Lawrence, received a unanimous call to be- come pastor of the congregation. He did not at once accept of this call, and was absent most of the time until the following may, 1844, when he signified his acceptance of the call, and returned to enter upon his work. July 10, 1844, he was installed Pastor of the Church and Congregation by the Presbytery of Kalamazoo, and has continued to hold that office up to the present date, (Dec. 30th, 1868,) now more than a quarter of a century from the date of his call. His connection with the congregation has been marked by mutual confidence and chris- tian fellowship. In 1860-61, the present house of worship was erected at a cost then of over $6,000.
During those twenty-five years, the congregation has been enjoying a fair degree of prosperity, has been unusually harmo- neous, and has been enabled to maintain without being burdened the institutions of religion. Within the past year (1868.) a chapel has been added to the church building, and now probably not another country congregation in the State, are as com- fortably and conveniently situated for a place of worship. and no people of the rural districts have been more uniformly prospered in business or preserved in health. This is to be attributed, in a large degree, to the christian principles which had so early an influence among the people.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL has never had a vacation, now these thirty-eight years. Public worship is uniformly well sustained. and the various branches of christian work are not overlooked.
A Congregationalist Church was early formed, but afterwards was united to the Presbyterian Church, the government of that church being modified for that purpose.
A Methodist Church is also now doing good work in the township.
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MASONIC.
RICHLAND LODGE NO. 217, F. & A. M. Instituted Feb. 28, 1866. by R. W. S. C. Coffinbury, G. M., Officers installed were : D. L. Johnson, W. M .: Amos Bartholomew, S. W .; S. C. Wilkinson, J. W .: E. C. Hathaway. Treas .; Asa Hoag, Sec'y; G. W. Brown, S. D .; A. Millspaugh, J. D .; J. Edget, Tyler. The first initiates were R. S. Hawley, A. M. Tucker. N. H. Walbridge, C. B. Brown and W. S. Logan. The Charter was granted January 10th, 1867.
PRESENT OFFICERS : W. S. Logan, W. M .; F. S. Bingham, S. W .: A. Bartholomew, J. W .; Nelson Boyles, Treas .; Reuben Spencer. Sec .; George N. Jewett, S. D .; S. P. Jewett, J. D .; A. M. Tucker, Tyler : Henry C. Jewett. Y. A. B. Eavans, Stewards.
Present number of members 50. Regular communications Monday evening on or before the full of the moon in each month.
ODD FELLOWS.
RICHLAND LODGE. I. O. of O. F. No. 52. Instituted February 24, 1851, by Joseph Miller, Jr. G. M. First officers were: L. S. Evans, N. G .; Wm. C. Sabin, V. G .: G. W. Warren, R. S .; H. M. Peck, T.
PRESENT OFFICERS : D. R. Chandler, N. G .; C. P. Morse, V. G .; N. S. Whitney, P. G .; E. Marble, R. S .; R. H. Warn, T .: A. M. Tucker, Warden; Wm. S. Logan, Conductor; Wm. Arrowsmith, Guardian; E. Marble, Chaplain.
Number of members 51. Time of meeting, Saturday evening.
ROSS.
The township of Ross, designated as town 1 south, of range 9 west, occupies the north east corner of Kalamazoo county. It is most excellent wheat-growing land ; the surface is rolling,
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(except east of Gull Lake, where there are extensive plains ) and is composed principally of oak openings, with some beech and maple skirting the river and some of the creeks. A large portion of Gull Lake is in Ross ( described in the sketch of Richland ), and the water from it furnishes power for running machinery and mills at Yorkville, Howlandsburg and Galesburg. There are fourteen other lakes, large and small, in the township, the river runs across the south-east portion of it, and there are a number of permanent streams, the largest of which is Wolf or Augusta creek which, rising in Barry county, runs south through the east part of the town, furnishing a water-power at Augusta The valley of the river is level and of very rich soil.
There are three villages in Ross, viz .: Yorkville, Augusta, and Ross Centre. The first named was the portion of Ross that was earliest settled ; the Barnes' located there in 1831, and the next year built a saw mill and soon after, a grist-mill. Mr. Stancliff, Mr. Lake and others also settled there and did work on the mill. Among the early settlers in this portion of the town were Hiram Blashfield, Horace II. Peck, George Torrey, Jobu C. Stonehouse, T. B. Pierce, - Griffith, E. Dibble, Noah Gray, Henry Mills, Dr. Uriah Upjohn, Samuel Phillips, a miller, the Butterfields, and the Waters family. Mr. Torrey and Mr. Gray had a store there. At Augusta, Dr. King and family settled in 1835-6; in 1837, George Rigby as agent of Sands McCamily, T. & W. Hall, and E. Convis, commenced the race at that place, and erected a saw mill, to which a grist mill was afterwards attached. Salmon C. Hall taught a school there at an early day; Horace Cross kept a tavern, the other settlers were Casey Mckay, Smith, Ford, Shepherd, Ira McAllister, the Conways, Wymans, -Sullivan, Gilbert Higgins, the Johnsons and others; east of Augusta, lived John Race, Potts, Miller, Labar and oth- ers. West of the place, the Howlands built a mill on Gull Creek. The McClellens and Merrills lived south towards the river. There was a settlement in the north-east portion of the town, Mr. George Thomas locating there, on section 6, in 1837, and the Hunts and Frosts lived on the north side of the river, near the east line of Ross. The township was organized in 1840.
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The town has developed rapidly. In 1860 it had a population of 1,514, and had 300 dwellings. The population is now esti- mated at 2.000. The township was always prompt in respond- ing to the calls upon its patriotisin during the war. The valua- tion of the real and personal property of Ross for the year 1868, was $256,616.
Augusta is now the largest village in the town and is a live ly business place, with a mill, a hotel, shops, schools, churches, stores, etc., and is the commercial centre of a large and prosper- ous section of country. Below is a sketch of the history of the churches and different orders.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1864, with seven members. Rev. William Rice, pastor. Present mem- bership 50. Number of Sabbath School scholars 125. Services were held first in a School house, they have a handsome struc- ture nearly completed at a cost of $5,000.
MASONIC.
AUGUSTA LODGE NO. 225, F. & A. M., organized March 20th. 1867, under dispensation.
First candidate initiated was Richard N. Willson.
Date of Charter, 8th day of January, 1868. Charter officers : D. R. Smith, W. M .; H. V. Hobart, S. W .; Jas. L. Wheeler, J. W .; R. Douglass, Treas .; E. Coddington, Sec .; C. Palmiter, S. D .; E. B. Mason, J. D .; J. Edgett, Tyler.
PRESENT OFFICERS : O. R. Smith, W. M .; H. V. Hobart, S. W .; E. B. Mason, J. W .; R. Douglass, Treas .; H. D. Pool, Sec .; C. Palmiter, S. D .; R. N. Willson, J. D .; D. Mckay, Tyler.
Regular Meeting held on Wednesday preceeding the full
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moon each month. Present membership 40. Situation of Lodge room over J. A. Deans & Co's Drug Store, Webster Street.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
AUS:STA LODGE No. 318, I. O. G. T. Organized February 1st. 1866, by Rev. James A. Davidson.
Officers : James H. Prater, W. C. T .; Mrs. James HI. Prater, W. V. T .; N. F. Pool, W. R. S .; Abijah Pool, W. T .; Marvin Mead. W. F. S .; John Harvey, W. M .; Mrs. N. F. Pool, W. I. G .; Eugene Mason, W. O. G .; Mary Mead, W. A. S .; Cornelia Pratt, W. D. M .; Carry Pratt, W. R. H. S .; Mrs. John Harvey. W. L. H. S .: Rev. Jos. Anderson, W. C .; Dr. M. Mason, P. W. C. T.
PRESENT OFFICERS: Alanson Webster, W. C. T .; Miss Viola Webster, W. V. T .; Marshall Foster, W. R. S .; Mrs. Marvin Mead, W. T .; Marvin Mead, W. F. S .; Frank Bracy, W. M .; Mrs. G. B. Phelps, W. I. G .; James H. Prater, W. O. G .; Mrs. Charles Palmiter, W. A. S .; Miss Alice Smith, W. D. M .; Miss Ellen Loomis, W. R. H. S .; Mrs. H. E. Wood, W. L. II. S .; Dr. M. Mason, W. C .; Mrs. James H. Prater, P. W. C. T.
Number of members at organization 47, present No. 69.
Regular Meeting, Tuesday evenings. Lodge Room, West Canal Street.
TEXAS.
This township lies south of Oshtemo and north of Prairie Ronde, and a portion of the prairies of both of these towns are in Texas; Genesee Prairie on the north west, and Prairie Ronde on the south east. The surface is rolling on the west, and throughout the town the growth of timber is such as is charac-
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terized as " oak openings," but is generally level. There is a little heavy timber in parts of the town. There are several streams, and sixteen lakes in the township; a branch of the Kalamazoo-Portage has its source near the east line of the town.
Among the first settlers in this township ( 3 south of range 12 west.) were : William Harris, the McLinns, Eli Douglas, the Rixes, O. C. Atwater, Archibald Fee, Ephraim Payne, Isaac Gage, H. N. Snow, John Snyder, O. C. Hill, Abial Stanley, Clark Kellogg, A. G. Towers, John J. Howard, James Weed, the McElroys, Hopes, Wagers. Briggs, Barbers, Abiel Fellows, J. H. Hogshed, Richard Holmes, Wm. Bishop, Levi Luce and S. O. Wells. A large quantity of land was taken up in 1836, in Texas, by W. A. Tomlinson of New York City. Prudence Wattles, J. W. Norris, J. & W. C. Gibbs, J. D. Ramsay, John Davenport and others entered land there about the same time. Mr. Barber planted the first orchard in the township, and when it came into bearing, was much annoyed by the predatory visits of the "boys," who had such a likeing for the fruit, that they would take the lion's share leaving Mr. Barber scarcely apples enough for a taste. His dying request was that he should be buried in the old orchard under a favorite tree, so that his spirit might keep the boys from stealing his fruit.
The town was organized in 183x, the first meeting of electors being held at the house of A. G. Towers. There is no village in the township, and its early history is similar to that of other towns. The pioneers have been men of intelligence, of deter- mined character, and have labored successfully in making Texas a prosperous and productive region. It is rapidly increasing in wealth and improvements. Its population may be counted at this time at about 1,400. Its valuation of real and personal property for 1868, was 8227,896. Average price of land in the township is worth $65 per acre. It furnished for the war its full quota of men, and with patriotic response met every call that was made either for men or for aid to the soldiers in the field and their families at home. There is not a church, store, shop, mill or grog shop in the town. The vote polled at the last election was 278.
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WAKESHMA.
There is no township in the county of which there is so little known as of Wakeshma. In past years it was only heard of, or any interest manifested in its existence, when the returns of an election were being waited for, and sometimes weeks would elapse before "full returns from Wakeshma " were brought in.
The vote of that town has been a standing jest for these many years, and a great stepping stone to let down the fall of a de. feated party. It has been looked upon as a wilderness and for- saken place umbragous and ambiguous, with here and there a squatter. It is therefore a great pleasure for us to add our tes- timony to that of others who are taking the stand in its favor; that in many respects it is the best town in the county, and has a destiny which even now is throwing long shadows before. There is scarcely any where in western Michigan to be found a handsomer country than in this township. It is nearly all timbered land, black walnut, whitewood, basswood, elm, beech, maple, cherry, etc., but it is high and dry, characterized by long valleys and low sloping hills, clear running streams, down to whose very margin the land is hard and dry.
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